As I Lay Dying (2013)
Directed by James Franco

Film Review

William Faulkner is not the easiest of authors to adapt for cinema. Douglas Sirk made a reasonable stab of adapting a Faulkner novel with his film The Tarnished Angels (1958), but the writer's 1930 novel As I Lay Dying is an altogether different prospect, one that would seem to be the archetypal unfilmable work of literature. Adopting the stream of consciousness literary form which Faulkner was particularly adept at using, the novel involves fifteen characters who take turns lending their distinctive voices to the narrative. To translate such an unorthodox storytelling approach into a film has to be regarded as an act either of folly or bravado, and it is not at all clear which of these led James Franco to take up this incredible challenge.

The result is far from being an unqualified success but the film does retain something of the special character Faulkner's great novel whilst having a unique identity of its own. Franco not only directed the film, he also wrote the script and appears on screen as one of the characters in the drama. Although his talents are more readily apparent in the acting department, Franco's direction and writing show promise and the mere fact that Franco has attempted something that no other director has so far dared to do - and made a reasonable fist of it - makes him worthy of our respect.

As I Lay Dying is a languorous and contemplative film which is content to let the characters of the protagonists slowly emerge through their extended monologues. Some cinematic gimmickry, such as the use of split screen, does jar a little and there are places where the film's pace does decline to a monotonous dawdle. Fortunately, the performances are of sufficient calibre to hold our attention and carry the narrative forward. A somewhat less daunting prospect than the novel on which it is based, As I Lay Dying is by no means the easiest of films to sit through but it has a certain undeniable charm and does encourage you to pick up that novel you have been putting off reading for more years than you care to admit.

Film Synopsis

The Bundrens are a poor but proud family. When the mother, Addie, dies, her husband, Anse, is determined to honour her last wish, to be buried in her home town. To achieve this, Anse and his five children must take the coffin on a long journey across country...